Gunners rejoice as bitter Birmingham foes Aston Villa are beaten by European lightweights Bruges

By Alessandro Schiavone at Jan Breydel Stadion, Bruges

UEFA Champions League Matchday Four

Club Brugge 1-0 Aston Villa

Goals: Vanaken (CB) pen 52'

Arsenal supporters would have liked the look of it: an Aston Villa defeat capped off with an hilarious Emiliano Martinez involvement in a costly cock-up.

And that certainly boosted the spirits on a night when they lost themselves 1-0 at Inter Milan a couple of hours later.

It is an escapable fact that the Brummies, who won home and away last season, stood between the Gunners and their ambition to mark their 20th anniversary since the Invincibles with a Prem title.

It's no consolation but yesterday Club Brugge ruined the Villans's 100 per cent record in the competition with a 1-0 win.

The penalty was converted by former West Ham target Hans Vanaken.

And how it came about can't possibly be made up.

The English centre-back had just returned from a 14-month layoff after rupturing his ACL.

Yet although the referee had already restarted the game, Mings embarrassingly picked up the ball with his hands which led to the concession of a penalty for the hosts. The ball was already in play but Mings did not know much about it.

The fans held their breath and Vanaken his nerve to give the serial Belgian Pro League winners their second win in four matches.

Former Brentford attacker Ollie Watkins came closest for Villa but rolled an effort just wide midway through the first period.

Emi Martinez produced stunning back-to-back saves, getting a hand to Jutgla's strike to divert it on to the post and then palming away Tzolis's long-ranger.

Mings had also cleared Nielson's effort off the line.

But it all came to nothing as Bruges saw the lead through to pile more misery on Emery's jaded and disjointed side.